Relay character-selecting system for photographic composing apparatus



June 25, 1946.

W. C. HUEBNER RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTING SYSTEM FOR RHOTOGRAPHICCOMPOSING APPARATUS Filed May 5,- 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1946.w. c. HUEBNER RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOGRAPHICCOMPOSING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 2W; WMM

ATTO R N EY June 25, 1946. w. c. HUEBNER RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTINGSYSTEM FOR PHOTOVGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1944 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Y n Mm,

ATTORNEY June 25, 1946. W C, HUEBNER RELAY CHARACTER-SKELECTING SYSTEMFOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUS '8 sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 3, 1944@m a@ mm ATTORNEY June 25, 1946. W. Q HUEBNER 2,402,750

RELAY CHARAGTER-SELECTING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUSFiled May 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 R a, f N mlm Y )N MW m l h l T M A vlM E ma wf .2".

G APPARATUS June 25, 1946. w. c. HUEBNER RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTINGSYSTEM FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSIN Filed May 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 6xNvNToR June 25, 1946. W HUEBNER 2,402,750

RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUSFiled May 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR ATT-ORN EY Patented June 25,1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELAY CHARACTER-SELECTING SYQSTEM FORPHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING AP` PARATUS William C. Huebner, New York, N. Y.Application May 3, 1944, Serlal No. 533,920

prises a font or set of printing or type characters4 including upper andlower case letters, numerals, punctuation marks and all the Variousother signs or characters necessary for use in composing printed orreading matter; optical projecting devices for selectively projectingimages of the several printing characters of said font for exposure in arequired relation on the sensitized or light sensitive surface orcoating of a plate, lm or other medium; and means for moving saidsensitized surface to present successive portions thereof in position toreceive the successively projected images of the selected characters soas to thereby photographically compose matter on a surface for use inproducing printed or reading matter.

More specifically the present improvements relate to a relay orintermediate character-selecting system or means for use with such aphotographic composing or setting apparatus for'printing characters,which serves to predetermine or preliminarily select the particularprinting characters to be projected to the sensitized surface, prior tothe actual projection or recording thereof on the'v surface, whereby,for example, all of the characters necessary forv a full printed linemay be selected, or in a sense picked out, before the images of any ofthe characters are recorded on the sensitized surface, and then aftersuch predetermination or selection,-the images of the selectedcharacters are successively recorded in the proper order or relation onthe sensitized surface to proexpense which would be entailed if thecorrections cr Justification had to be made after the characters havebeen recorded on the sensitized surface.

One object. therefore, of my invention is to provide a practical andemcient relay-selecting system 'or means for accomplishing such results.'Ihe general organization and operation of the relay character-selectingsystem or means of this application may be briefly indicated as follows:A series of movable selector pins or elements is provided for eachprinting character of the font or set in the composing apparatus. Forinstance, by way of example, if the font of characters in the composingmachine comprises 96 diiferent characters, which nulmber is adequate forall ordinary printing composition work, there will be 96 series or rowsof pins or elements, one row for each different character, and each rowhaving therein 96 spaced selector pins or elements. Also the pins orelements are arranged so that they are disposed in parallel rowstransverse to the longitudinal rows.

Cooperating with this group of rows of the selector pins or elements isa carriage arranged to travel lengthwise of the rows of the pins andcarrying a series of pin setters or actuators, one for each longitudinalrow of selector pins, said pin setters being disposed in a transverserow on the carriage. In the initial position of the car- 80 riage, eachpin setter registers with the rst selector pin of a differentlongitudinal row, and the carriage is advanced step by step, so that ineach successive pcsitionthereof, the pin setters register with theselector pins in the next `successive transverse row. A suitablekeyboard is provided laving a finger key for each of the severalprinting characters and a space key. With the carriagel in the initialposition, the appropriate duce the printing line. Thus, by the use ofsuch relay character-selecting means, if an error is made, as forinstance, the selection of the Wrong character, the omission orrepetition of one or more characters, or the composed line of charactersis not of the required length, then the relayselecting apparatus permitsthe required corrections in the selection of the characters and the-requred justification or spacing of the printedline or of thecharacters before any recording of the characters is made on thesensitized surface. This prevents the recording of errors on the senkeyfor the first character to be selected is depressed or operated and actsthrough a connected electromagnet or operating device to move theactuator or setter for the registering selector pin which representsthat character in the transverse row of pins. The carriage is thenadvanced one step and places the setters in register with the nexttransverse row of selector pins. Then, when the key for the nextcharacter required is operated, it will similarly set'the correlated pinin the second transverse row, this operation being repeated until theselector pins for all of the printing characters necessary to compose aprinting line have been actuated or set. This setting of the selectorpins does not cause the printing characters to be recorded on thesensitized .sitized surface and avoids much delay, labor and 55 surface,but after thus setting the selector pins,

the travel oi the carriage is reversed, and in its return travel pastthe selector pins. coacts in succession with the several pins which havebeen set, as through the instrumentality of electrical connections andactuating magnets or devices. to operate the shutters or devices of thephotocomposlng apparatus which cause the several characters which havebeen thus selected by the setting pins. to be projected or recorded insuccession on the sensitized' surface.

In this application, the selector elements are illustrated as and termed"pins," but it is not thereby intended to restrict the invention to theuse of pin-like devices for the selector elements, but to comprehendmovable elements of other suitable forms,

Another object of the invention is to provide two duplicate groups ofselector4 pins with a selector carriage for each group, whereby the pinsof one group can be selected or set. as explained, and during the returntravel of the selector carriage of this group for eifecting therecording of the characters, the selector pins of the second group canbe similarly set to select the characters for the next printing line. soas thereby to enable the operator to operate the keyboard to select thecharacters for one printing line during the time that the characters forthe preceding line are being recorded on the sensitized surface, therebypreventing waste of time and greatly increasing the speed of operationof the composing apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification of the preferred embodiment of the inventionshown in the accompanying drawings. and the novel features of theinvention are set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings:

Fig. i is a plan view of a relay character-selecting means embodying myinvention, representing more or less schematically two boards or groupsof selecting pins or elements.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation therefor.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on a larger scale showing one of thepin boards with the pin selector carriage in an intermediate positionover the pin board.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the selector carriage and its step bystep feed mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view thereof partly in end elevation and partly intransverse section.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation. similar to Fig. 4, but omitting the partsof the carriage feed mechanism and showing by broken lines thearrangement of the selector pin mechanism which is 1ocated back of thefeed mechanism. Y Fig. '1 is an end elevation thereof, partly intransverse section, on line 1 1, Fig, 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional elevation on line 8 8,Fig. '7, showing the position of the parts during the retum travel ofthe carriage.

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the position of the parts during theforward travel of the carriage.

Figs. 10-12 are views partly in front elevation and partly in section,showing different positions of the carriage step-by-step feed mechanism.

Figs. 13 and 14 are diagrammatic illustrations of the electrical controloperating means for the relay character-selecting mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings. A represents the stationary standard or support of aphotocomposing connected at their ends by transverse end bars.

On this horizontal frame is supported, preferably at opposite sides ofthe standard A, two horizontal, rectangular pin board frames havingfront and rear longitudinal frame bars 2J and-24 connected by transverseend bars 25, in which frames are supported two groups of selector pinsor elements movably mounted in pin boards or supports B and B'. 'I'heseboards with their movably supported groups of selector pins areduplicates, so that a detailed description of the left-hand pin boardand its associated devices only will sumce for a correct understandingof the dual selecting mechanism. 'I'he pin board preferably comprises aplurality (for example six) of parallel panels extending lengthwise ofthe board. each panel boing formed by upper and lower plates 2l and Ilof suitable insulating material secured together. 'I'he opposite ends ofthe upper plate may project beyond the ends of the lower plate forsupport in rabbeted portions of the end bars 2l of the board-supportingframe. as shown in Fig. 8,

Each board panel is provided with a plurality of parallel, .longitudinalrows of holes I8 in which selector pins 30 are movably confined. therebeing in the whole board one longitudinal row of pim lfor each differentprinting character of the font in the composing apparatus. That is,

that there are 96 characters in the font, there will be 96 longitudinalrows of pins, or 16 in each panel, and in each longitudinal row therewill be 96 equally spaced pins, all correlated with or representing thesame printing character. Also. the pins are arranged so that they arealined in parallel rows extending transversely across the pin board. Thepins 30 are shiftable vertically in their holes so that in one positionthey project above the top face of the board and in another positionbelow the bottom face thereof. Preferably the pins are provided betweentheir ends with circumferential collars or enlargements 8| movable incounterbores of the holes 28, so that the upward movement of the pins islimited by engagement of the collars with the upper ends of theoounterbores.

For each longitudinal row of pins there is preferably in each lowerpanel plate a longitudinal channel 32 that intersects the pin holes,which -latter may be somewhat counterbored where they intersect thechannel, and running lengthwise in this channel at opposite sides of therow of pins are shown contact ribbons 8l which are connected at oppositeends to two terminal posts 34 secured in the bored panel. 'I'heseribbons bear against opposite sides of the several pins in the row whichdeflect or bend the ribbons somewhat into the intersecting counterbores,so that by maintaining the contact ribbons under lengthwise tension,they bear ilrmly against the opposite sides of the several pins in therow and thus serve to frictionally and releasably hold the pins ineither their upper or lower positions. The ribbons are of copper orother conducting material and establish a reliable electrical contactbetween ribbon and the several pins, so that an electrical conductor 34aconnected to one of the terminal posts 34 for the ribbons will beelectrically connected with each selector pin in the row. The top facesof the board panels also preferably have longitudinal clearance groovesI6, one in register with each longitudinal row of holes. through whichthe upper ends of the pins are adapted to protrude. Downward movementofthe selector pins may be limited by engagement of their collars withthe contact ribbons. Y

Movable relativelyto the pin board; parallel with lthe longitudinal rowsof selector pins is a selector carriage C which carries a transverse rowo! pin Setters or actuators, one for each longitudinal row of pins. Asshown. this carriage comprises vertical front and rear end plates and 4idisposed outside of the front and rear edges of the pin board, andbottom and top crossbars 42 and 43 connecting the end plates andextending transversely respectively beneath and above the pin board Band its supporting frame. The carriage is suitably mounted to travellengthwise oi the pin board, as by rollers 44 which may be journalled onilxed studs extending inwardly from the ends of the carriage, and arearranged to roll on the front and rear longitudinal bars 23 and 24 ofthe pin board frame; and the carriage may be propelled along the pinboard, as by an electric motor 45 mounted on the carriage and suitablygeared to pinions 45 meshing with toothed racks 41 extending along thelongitudinal bars 23 and 24 of the pin board frame. As shown, these rackpinions 46 are secured on a transverse shaft 41a which is suitablyjournalled in the end plates of the carriage, and at one end is providedwith a wheel 48 in frictional engagement with a pinion 48a on the shaftof motor 45. Thus, the carriage may bef propelled along the pin board byits motor but is adapted to be arrested at intervals to eiect astep-by-step movement thereoij, as later explained. Any other suitableslip drive connection for this purpose could be employed, and thecarriage can be suitably guided in its travel along the pin board, asfor instance, by guide studs 49, Fig. 7, arranged in sliding contactwith opposite sides of a guide strip 49a extending along the rear sidebar 24 of the carriage-supporting frame.

Mounted on the carriage, and as shown, beneath the pin board is atransverse row or series of actuating motors or devices, preferablyelectromagnets 50, one for each longitudinal row of the selector pinsfor actuating or setting them. Each magnet, as shown, hasl two coils,one above the other, and the magnets are disposed in staggered order intworows across the),` carriage, as indicated by solid and broken linesin Fig. 7, to thereby enable a close enough arrangement of the magnetsfor their armatures or movable members, which constitute pin Setters, tobe 1ocated one beneath each longitudinal row of the selector pins, witha. relatively close disposition oi. the rows'of pins. As shown, eachmagnet is mounted by a bracket 5| on a transverse base plate' 52 ofsuitable insulating material which, in turn, is secured on a transversesub-base 53, also of suitable insulating material, ilxed on thecarriage. Ihe sub-base 53 shown, is provided -lengthwise of itsunderside with a channel 54 through which may extend and be housed,electrical conductors or wires 54a, each connected with one of theseveral magnets 50. The angleshaped magnet armatures 55 are pivoted at56 on posts 51 xed on the base 52' and have arms 58 which extend beneaththe several longitudinal rows of selector pins, each arm beneath and inthe plane of one longitudinal row of pins, so that when any magnet 50 isenergized and its armav ture actuated, its arm 58 will be raised andwill set, or push upwardly so as to project above the top of the pinboard, the one selector pin beneath which the end of the arm 5l islocated atthe time, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 9. Each pinsetter 58 may beu returned to its normal lowered position when itsoperating magnet is deenergized by a suitable spring 5l, Fig. 9. Thecarriage C is advanced in one direction (to the right as illustrated)step-by-fstep. and at successive rest positions between its stepmovements the transverse row of magnet-actuated pin setters ll will belocated beneath successive transverse rows of the selector pins witheach pin setter 58 located below a dill'erent selector pin 30 in thesame transverse row, so that when any one of the magnets is energized inany rest position of the carriage, one selector pin, but only one, willbe raised, or set, but any one of the selector pins in lche sametransverse row can be actuated by energizing its correlated magnet.Thus, in any rest position of the carriage the selector pincorresponding with or representing any desired printing character can beset, but only one pin representing one character Suitably'mounted, as ona transverse bar Iii)l of insulating material, on the carriage C abovethe pin board is a transverse series of'contact elements 6I, preferablyin the form of rollers, ar-

ranged to roll on the pin board each above one longitudinal row. ofselector pins, so as during the return travel of the carriage C, tocontact with any one or more selector pins in said row which has or havebeen set. as above explained, to project above the board. These rollersare suitably insulated from each other and from their mountings, andmovably mounted in holes in said supporting bar 60, are conductor pins82, each bearing at its lowerend on the periphery of one contact roller6|.v Each pin 52 is connected at its upper end to a spring conductingstrip 53 which is secured, as by a terminal or binding screw 64 tosupporting bar 60. and acts to maintain the pin in contact with theroller. During a return travel of the carriage C, when any of therollers contacts with a. selector pin 30 which has been raised or set,it and its conductor pin 52 and spring 63 will establish an electricalconnection from the related terminal post 34 and connected conductor 34athrough the connected contact ribbon 33 and selector .pin to the bindingscrew 84 f and connected conductor 65 for completing a circuit foroperating a light shutter or means which projects or records on thesensitized surface in the photocomposing apparatus the characterrepresented by the set selector pin 30, as later explained. Also securedto the supporting bar 60 is a comb 66 having depending teeth, eacharranged to trail in a diilerent one of the clearance grooves 36 in thepin board, and during the return travel of the carriage to restore totheir re' tracted positions, the selector pins which were set during thepreceding advance of the carriage.

As shown in Fig. 9, in which the carriage C is indicated as movable inthe advance direction, the broken line position of the pin setter or arm58 shows that it sets the pins in a transverse row which is located inrear of the contact rollers 5i and that the selector pins in front ofsaid row are 7 retracted. so that during the step-by-step advance of thecarriage. contact rollers Il will not long as the roller contacts with apin, and just alter the roller clears a pin, the pin will beshoved downthrough the clearance groove 35 by the comb tooth 88, which trails justbehind the roller. In this way the projecting or recording circuits canonly be established by those selector pins which have been raised to theset position, and then only during the return travel of the carriage,and the accidental or unintentional closing of any .projection orrecording circuits is prevented.

Before the commencement of the character selecting operation of theapparatus, the several selector pins are in their depressed position, asshown by the pins at the right-hand portions of Figs. 8 and 9, and thecarriage will be in the starting position with the pin Setters or arms58 below the first transverse row of the selector pins. Ii' then thenger key for any printing character illustrated conventionally at |80,Fig. 13, is struck, it will close the operating electric circuit of thecorresponding magnet 50, and the setting arm 88 thereof will be raisedand will raise the registering selector pin in the iirst transverse rowto its upper position, as shown for instance, by the first pin to theleft of the contact roller 6i in Fig. 9. Then, before the key lfor thenext required printing character is struck, the carriage will beadvanced one step toward the right, as seen in the drawings, and the pinsetting arms 58 will ybe placed in register with the selector pins .80in the second transverse row. Now when the key |88 for the next required.printing character is struckI its corresponding magnet 50 will besimilarly energized and will set the selector pin in the secondtransverse row that represents that printing character, this operationbeing repeated each time a key |80 of the operating keyboard is struck.When the keys for all of the characters required for printing a linehave been thus operated, the selector carriage will have advancedstep-by-step tothe right, and one selector pin 30 in each transverse rowwill have been set in its upper position. The operator then reverses thecarriage-propelling motor and the carriage starts its return travel i.e, to the left, as illustrated in the drawings. During this returnmovement, contact rollers Bi will, as explained, contact one afteranother, the several selector pins which have been set, and asexplained, will establish operating circuits for the projection orrecording in succession of the printing characters represented by theseveral raised or set selector pins, and thus effectthe recording of theprinting characters on the sensitized surfacelr, During this returntravel of the carriage, the comb .66 will sweep over and return to theirretracted positions, all of the selector pins which have been set, andwhen the carriage reaches its initial position, at the left-hand end ofthe keyboard,` the parts will be in .position for the next step-by-stepadvance travel of the carriage and selection of the `printing charactersfor tbe next printing line.

The mechanism for effecting the step-by-step advance of the selectorcarriage, as herein illustrated, is constructed as follows, seeparticularly Figs. 4, and 10-12. A series of spaced retractable stoppins 1I are arranged in a row in the normal lus path of travel of acooperating stop member 1I which is mounted on the carriage to shiftfrom an operative, or lower, position in which it is adapted to engagesaid stop pins, to a raised p0- sition in which it can pass over orclear the stop pins. to permit return movement of the carriage. In theinitial or rest position of the apparatus, said shiftable stop restslagainst the first stop pin 18 of the series, as shown in Fig. 11, andholds the carriage from advance movement. The stop pins 1I are movablein guide holes in a bar 12 which extends along the front of the carriagesupporting frame, from an upper position in which they can engage thecarriage stop 1| to a retracted or lower position in which they clearthe carriage stop, and each of the pins, as shown, has a rectangularhead or enlargement 13 at its lower end. A stationary ledge 1t extendingalong under the pins limits their downward movement.

Any suitable means, such for example, as the friction means used for theselector pins 30, can be employed to releasably retain the stop pins 10in their upper or lower positions.

On the front of the carriage is a double electromagnet 15 havingarmatures 1B suitably pivoted, as on legs 11, depending from asupporting bar 18, preferably of insulating material, stationarilysecured on the front of the carriage and on which bar the magnets 15 aresuitably mounted. The armatures have lateral legs 19 on which a springacts through a plunger 8| to normally lift the legs and hold thearmatures away from the magnet cores. A trigger 82, arranged to movevertically ln a suitable guide on the carriage, has a lateral foot whichbears upon and is adapted to be raised by the spring plunger 8|, and afinger 83 at its upper end which is adapted to project over the heads 13of the stop pins 10. The ends of armature legs 18 engage the foot oftrigger 82 for pulling the trigger down when the magnet is energized. Inthe initial position of the carriage, the trigger iinger 83 projectsover the head 13 of rst stop pin at the left of the series, as shown inFigs. 10 and 11. If then the carriage propelling motor 45 is started foradvance movement of the carriage and the magnet 15 is energized, itsarmatures will be attracted and will pull down trigger 82 and thusretract the first pin from engagement with carriage stop 1| to releasethe carriage. But at this time the forward pressure of the carriage byits motor will hold the trigger linger 83 against the side of the headof the second stop pin and prevent advance of the carriage. When,however, the magnet is deenergized, the spring 80 will lift the triggerto its upper position in which it clears the head of the second stoppin. The carriage will then advance until the carriage stop 1I engagesand is arrested by the second stop pin, and in this advance the triggerfinger 83 will be moved over the head of the second stop pin in positionto retract this pin when the magnet is again energized for the next stepadvance of the carriage. The carriage is thus advanced step-by-stepacross the pin board by successive operations of the magnet 15 andretraction of the stop pins in succession until the advance travel ofthe carriage is arrested by a limit stop.

There are two of these limit stops 85, 85a arranged on the apparatusframe adjacent opposite ends of the pin board for respectively limitingthe advance and return travels of the carriage. These stops perform thedual function of limitins the carriage travel and also of causing thecarriage stop 1I to be shifted from the opera- 9 tive to the'inoperative position and vice versa. Just before the carriage reachesthe end of the advance travel, limit stop 88 engages a toggle .jointformed by links 88, 81. The inner ends of these toggle links are pivotedtogether and the link 88 is suitably fulcrumed at its lower end at 88 onthe carriage frame, while the upper end of the toggle link 81 is pivotedat 89 to the shift` able carriage stop 1|. When the toggle engages thelimit stop 88, the toggle is shifted from its bent DOBition, shown infull lines in Fig. 12, to its straightened position, shown by brokenlines in the same ligure, thereby raising the carriage stop -1.|, whichis movable vertically in a suitable guide 98 on the front of thecarriage. 'This straightening of the toggle joint by the limit stop Ilwill cause the bevelled end of a latch 9|, which may be pivoted on theknee pin of the toggle, to ride up on the inclined topof a stationarypost 92 on the carriage and when the hook 98 of the latch clears the topface of the post, a suitable spring 94 attached to an arm of the latchand to the carriage frame will engage the latch hook with the upper endof the post 92, as shown in Fig. l0, and thereby hold the togglestraight. The toggle being straightened against the post 92, preventsfurther advance movement of the carriage and holds the carriage stop 1|in its raised position, which is shown in Fig. 10. The spring 94 tendsto break or move the toggle joint to the bent position shown in fulllines in Fig. 12, when the pawl 9| is released from its post 92 byengagement with the other limit stop 88a, as presently explained.

A roller 95 is shown journalled on the knee pin of the toggle and whenthe toggle is straightened to lift carriage stop 1| at the end of theadvance travel of the carriage, this roller is raised to a positionshown by broken lines in Fig. 12, in which it is adapted to roll alongagainst the bottom ends of the stop pin.1|| during the return travel ofthe carriage C, or to the left, as shown in the drawings, thus engagingthe stop pins in succession and lifting them to their uppercarriage-holding positions. In the return movement of the carriage, theshiftable stop 1| is held up and adapted to pass over the tops of thestop pins. AsA the carriage approaches the end of its return travel, orits initial position, the bevelled end' of the latch 9|, which is thenheld by and projects beyond its keeper post 92, will engage theleft-hand 4limit stop 85a and will be hereby lifted clear of post 92, asillustrated by the broken lines in Fig. 10, and permit the spring 94 tomove the toggle to its bent position and thus pull the carriage stop 1|down into its operative position. Toggle link 88. by engaging a suitableabutment 96 on the carriage, limits the bending movement of the toggleand the descent of the carriage stop 1| by the spring 94. Before stop 1|is thus lowered, it will have reached the end of its return travel tothe left beyond the row of stop pins 10, and when lowered, will be inposition to engage the first stop pin 10, and thus hold the carriage inits initial position.

Operating or control means for the relay character selecting mechanismare shown diagrammatically in Figs. 13 and 14, and are constructed andoperated as folows:

|80, Fig. 13, represents a finger key, one of which for each printingcharacter is provided in a suitable keyboard. This key, when struck ordepressed, closes a switch |8|, thereby closing 'an electrical circuitfrom one side |82 of a main supply line through a conductor |83, theswitch 8|,

' the magnet 18 that effects the step-by-step movement of the selectorcarriage, through said conductor 84a, branch conductor |88, coils of`magnet 18 and through conductors |81 and |88 to the other side of thesupply line. Thus, arm 58 of the magnet 89 is actuated and sets theregistering selector pin 38, and after the pin has been set, the magnet18 causes the carriage to advance one step to place the setter magnetslll in position to operate the next transverse row of selector pins, asbefore explained. Thecarriage is not thus advanced until after theselector pin is set, because, as before mentioned, nger 83 of theretracting trigger for the carriage stop pins 19 engages the head oi'one stop pin and prevents the advance movement of the carriage until thefinger is lifted clear of the head of the stop pin, into position forengaging the next stop pin. In this way the carriage is advanced onestop after the selector pin that represents the printing charactercorresponding with the finger key which has been struck, is set. Theselector pins for al1 of the printing characters required to compose aline are thus set by striking the keys so representing such characters.

During the return travel of the carriage, which is then caused byreversing its motor, the contact rollers 8| will engage the selectorpins 30 which have been set in` one transverse row after another, andwhen each roller engages a selector pin, an operating circuit isestablished, as from one side |82 of the supply line through a conductor|80, the conductor 34a, contact ribbon 33, the selector pin 30, contactroller 8| and its conducting pin and spring, and conductor to a magnetor electrical device |9| of the photocomposing apparatus, and backthrough the conductor 92 to the supply line |82a. 'This electricaldevice |9| corresponds to the magnet 84 in the photocomposing apparatusof my Patent No. 2,180,417, and operates a shutter or other element ofthe apparatus, here indicated at |94, which causes the projection oi'the image of the selected printing characteronto the sensitized surface.Magnet |9|, as/here shown, controls a motor |93 which may be constructedas disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 537,236, or may beof any other suitable construction. As shown in Fig. 14, magnet |9|actuates a valve |95 of a pneumatic motor |93, to open the shutter |94,and when the magnet is deenergized, its valve is shifted by a spring |98to-close or return the shutter or other projecting device of thephotocomposing apparatus to its normal. inactive position. Thus, ashutter or image-projecting device of the photocomposing,` apparatus isoperated to project an image of each selected printing character to thesensitized surface when a contact roller 6| engages the "correlatedselector pin 30 whichhas been set, and the shutter or projecting device|94 is held open or active until the contact roller 8| moves out ofcontact with the selector pin. Therefore the length of time that theshutter remains open, that is, the length of the exposure periods forthe character images, can be controlled by regulating or changing thespeed of operation of the carriage actuaing motor45.

Between any successive operations of the shutters or devices |94 forprojecting images of the 1l printing characters to the sensitizedsurface, the carriale for said surface is advanced one step to place thesensitized surface in position to receive th'e imag'e of the succeedingselected character. This may be accomplished, as shown in Fig. 14, whichmustrates the carriage C' for the sensitized surface. D ofthephotocomposing apparatus. A spring actuated or snap switch |00,suitably mounted on the selector carriage, as on the bar Il thereof,travels past a. control bar or element I'li adapted to open and closethe switch' Ill'between each contact of one of the contact rollers ilwith s. selector pin il, and the contact of a roller Il with a selectorpin in the next transverse row of pins, for causing the carriage C' withthe sensitized surface to advance one step after the exposure of oneimage on the sensitized surface, and before the exposure of the nextimage th'ereon. when the switch no is closed, as by engagement with oneof a series of spaced projections il! on the control element lili. acircuit is completed through conductor I", said switch |00, conductorIUI to magnets or electrical devices I and lua' and through. conductor|05 back to the supply line. These magnets |04 and lilla produce thestep-by-step movement of the sensitised surface, as by operating theretracting member for the carriage stop pins in my copending applicationSerial No. 533,921 filed of even date herewith, for Justifying means forphotocomposing apparatus, the magnets operating as explained in saidapplication, to actuate the stop pins one after another to cause astep-by-step ad-l vance movement oi the carriage.

As should be apparent from the above, the selector pins l are set by theactuation of th'e keys of the keyboard for selecting or predetermininsthe characters which are to be recorded on the sensitized surface tocompose a printing line. After the pins have been thus set, and duringthe return travel of the selector carriage, means are operated which'cause the projection of the images of the selected printing charactersone after another on the sensitized surface, which is shifted or movedafter the recording of each image thereon to position for receiving thenext image. But the images are not recorded on the sensitized surfaceuntil after the selector elements for all of the characters forcompleting a full printing line have been set, or that is, during thereturn travel of the selector carriage after the setting of the selectorelements. Therefore, if any mistake is made in selecting the printingcharacters, the mistake can be corrected by retracting the improperlyset selector element and setting the proper element before the image ofany character is recorded on the sensitized surface. Furthermore, thismanner of predetermining or setting of the selector elements for thecharacters necessary to make up the required printing line enables thejustification of the line or th'e required change in the spacing of thewords or characters before the printing or recording thereof on thesensitized surface, as explained in my said application, Serial No.533,921

' 1. In a relay apparatus for selecting Printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in laterally related rows, each of which rowscomprises elements correlated with' a different yone of said severaldiilerent printing characters, a series of element-setting devices onefor each row of said selector elements, means for producing a relativeinitial movement between said elements and said setting deviceslengthwise of said rows for placing said setting devices in operativeregister with successive selector elements of said rows, means forselectively operating said setting devices for setting correspondingones of said elements in character-selecting position, and means actingby a subsequent such relative movement between said elements and settingdevices and cooperating with said selected elements subsequently to saidsetting thereof for selecting the printing character correspondingtherewith.

2. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a ront ofdifferent characters. the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in parallel longitudinal rows each of which rowsincludes elements corresponding to a diierent one of the several differ-`ent printing characters and said elements being arranged in like orderin said several longitudinal rows, a series of element-setting devices,one for each longitudinal row of said selector elements movablelengthwise or" said longitudinal rows for placing said setting devicesduring an initial such movement thereof in operative relation tosuccessive elements of the rows, operating keys and connectionscorrelated with said several printing characters for selectivelyactuating said setting devices for setting corresponding ones of saidelements in character-selecting position, and means movable with saidsetting devices lengthwise of said rows and by such movement cooperatingwith said selected elements subsequently to said setting thereof forselecting the printing characters which' correspond therewith.

3. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a font ofdifferent characters, the combination of a group of movabie selectorelements arranged in like order in parallel longitudinal rows, each ofwhich rows includes elements corresponding to a different one of saidseveral different printing characters, a series of setting devices forsaid elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedeach in register with one of said rows of elements, means for advancingsaid carriage in one direction lengthwise of said rows for placing saidsetting devices in register with successive elements of said rows, a keyfor each of said several printing characters operatively connected eachwith a diierent one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said elements in character-selecting position, andmeans cooperating with such selected elements for selecting the printing`characters corresponding therewith upon areturn movement of saidcarriage.

4. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a font ofdiierent characters,

the combination of a group of movable selector elements arranged in likeorder in parallel longi- 'tudinal and transverse rows, each of whichlongitudinal rows includes elements corresponding to a different one ofsaid several different printing characters, a series of setting devicesfor said elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedin a transverse row with each device in resister with one of saidlongitudinal l printing characters operatively connected each with adiilerent one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said elements in character-selecting position, andmeans cooperating with such selected elements for selecting4 theprinting characters corresponding therewith upon a return movement ofsaid car-u rlage.

5. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing characters,including a font of printing characters and projecting means forindividually projecting images of said characters lonto a sensitizedsurface; a relay selecting means for 4preiieterminlng the characters ofsaid font whose images are to be projected to the sensitized surfacecomprising a group of movable selector elements correlated with theseveral different printing characters of said font, means movable inadvance and return directions relatively to said group of selectorelements and operable upon an advance movement thereof to selectivelyset in operative position the selector elements of said group whichcorrespond to the printing characters whose images are to be projectedto the sensitized surface, and means movable with said setting means andcooperating with said selected elements upon a return movement of saidsetting means for ell'ecting operation of said image-projecting means ofthe printing characters corresponding with said selected elements.

6. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing characters,including a. font of printing characters and projecting means forindividually projecting images of said characters onto a sensitizedsurface; a relay selecting means for predetermining the characters ofsaid font whose images are to be projected to the sensitized surface,`comprising a plurality of series of movable selector elements, eachseries including selector elements corresponding to a different one ofthe several different printing characters of said font, a series ofsetting devices movable in advance and return directions relatively tosaid series of selector elements and operable upon an advance movementthereof to selectively set in operative position selector elements whichcorrespond to the printing characters of said font whose imagesv are tobe projected to the sensitized surface, and means movable with saidsetting devices and cooperating with said selected elements upon areturn movement of said setting devices for eilecting operation of saidimage-projecting means of the printing characters corresponding withsaid selected elements.

7. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing characters,including a font of printing characters and projecting means forindividually projecting images of said characters onto a sensitizedsurface; a relay selecting means for predetermining the characters ofsaid font whose images are to be .projected to the sensitized surface,comprising a plurality of rows of movable selector elements each'ofwhich rows includes elements corresponding to a different one of theseveral different characters of said font, a series of element-settingdevices one for each row of selector elements, means for producing arelative advance movement between said elements and said setting deviceslengthwise of said rows for placing said setting devices in operativereg-l 14 ister with successive selector elements o! said rows. anoperating key for each oi.' said several printing characters operativelyconnected each with a different one of said setting devices forselectively setting correlated ones oi! said elements incharacter-selecting position, and means movable with said settingdevices and cooperating with said selected elements upon a relativereturn movement between said elements and said setting devices foreiTecting operation of said yimage-projecting means of the printingcharacters corresponding with said selected elements.

8. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing characters,including a font of printing characters and projecting means forindividually projecting images of said characters onto a sensitizedsurface; a relay selecting means for predetermining the characters ofsaid font whose images are to be projected to the sensitized surface,comprising a plurality oi rows of movable selector elements each ofwinch rows includes elements corresponding to a different one of theseveral diderent characters of said font, a series of element-settingdevices one for each row of selector elements, a carriage on which saidsetting devices are arranged in a transverse row with each devicecorrelated with one of said rows or elements, means for advancing saidcarriage in one direction lengthwise of said rows for placing saidsetting devices in register with successive selector elements of saidrows, an operating key for each of said several printing charactersoperatively connected each with a different one of said setting devicesfor selectively setting correlated ones of said elements in operativeposition.

and means cooperating during a return movement of said carriage withsaid selected elements which have been set, for eiecting operation ofsaid image-projecting means of the printing characters correspondingwith said selected elements.

9. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing charactersincluding a font of printing characters, and electrically operatedprojecting devices for individually projecting images of said charactersonto a sensitized surface; relay selecting means for predetermining thecharacters of said font Whose images are to be projected to thesensitized surface, comprising a plurality of series of movable selectorelements, each series including selector elements corresponding to adifferent one of the several diirerent printing characters, a series ofelectrical devices, one for each series of said selector elements, forsetting said elements in operative position, means for advancing saidsetting devices into operative relation to successive selector elementsoi said series, an operating key for each of said several printingcharacters, and electrical connections from each key to a differentsetting device for selectively setting in operative position selectorelements of said group which correspond to the printing characters whoseimages are to be projected to the sensitized surface, and means movablewith said setting devices and cooperating with said selected elements bya return movement of said setting devices for establishing controlelectrical circuits for said image-projecting devices ofthe printingcharacters corresponding with said selected elements.

10. In a, relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group of movablegselectorelements arranged in laterally related rows each of which rows includeselements corresponding to a different one of said several differentprinting characters, a series of setting devices for said elements onefor each row of elements, mea/ns for producing a relative movementbetween said elements and said settingI devices lengthwise oi said rowsi'or placing said devices in operative register with successive selectorelements of said rows, an operating key for each of said several`printing characters each having electrical operating connections with adifferent one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said selector elements in operative position, andmeans cooperating with said selected elements subsequently to saidsetting thereof, for establishing electrical circuits for selecting theprinting characters corresponding with said selected elements which wereset.

1l. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a i'ont4of different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in like order in longitudinal rows, each of which rowsincludes elements corresponding to a ditIerent one of the severaldifferent printing characters. a series of electrical setting devicestor said elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedin a transverse row with each device in register with a differentlongitudinal row of elements, means for advancing said carriage in onedirection lengthwise of said rows for placing said setting devices inoperative register with successive elements of said rows, an operatingkey for each of said several printing characters electrically connectedeach with a different one -of said setting devices for selectivelysetting corresponding ones of said elements in operative position, and aseries of contact devices on said carriage arranged to contact with saidselected elements upon a return travel of said carriage to establishelectric circuits for selecting the printing characters correspondingwith said selected elements.

12. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in like order in longitudinal rows, each oi' whichrows includes elements corresponding to a diiIerent one of the severaldifferent printing characters, a series of electrical setting devicesfor said elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedin a transverse row with each device in register with a differentlongitudinal row of elements, means for advancing said carriage in onedirection lengthwise of said rows for placing said setting devices inoperative register with successive elements of said rows, an operatingkey for each of said several printing characters electrically connectedeach with a diilerent one of said setting devices for selectivelysetting corresponding ones of said elements in operative position, aseries of contact devices on said carriage arranged to contact with saidselected elements upon a return travel of said carriage to establishelectric circuits for selecting the printing characters correspondingwith said selected elements, and means operating during the returntravel of said carriage to retract from operative position said selectedelements which were set in operative position.

13. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in like order in longitudinal rows, e'ach of whichrows includes elements corresponding to a different one of the severaldifferent printing characters, a series of electrical setting devicesfor said elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedin a transverse row with each device in register with a diii'erentlongitudinal row of elements, means for advancing said carriage step bystep in one direction lengthwise oi said rows for placing said settingdevices in register with successive elements of said rows, a key foreach of said several printing characters electrically connected eachwith a different one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said elements in operative position, electricalmeans controlled by said key for advancing said carriage one step aftereach selected element is set in operative position, and a series ofcontact devices on said carriage arranged to contact with saidselectedelements upon a return movement of said carriage to establishelectric circuits for selecting the printing characters correspondingwith said selected elements.

14. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters according toclaim 4, in which said means for advancing the carriage step by stepcomprises a longitudinal row of stop elements, a. shiftable stop on saidcarriage engageable in one position thereof with said stop elements insuccession, means for retracting said stop elements in succession toeffect step advance movements of said carriage, and means acting uponthe return travel or said carriage to return said stop elements tooperative stopping position and shift said carriage stop toclear saidstop elements during the return travel of said carriage.

15. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters according toclaim 4. in which said means for advancing the carriage step by stepcomprises a longitudinal row of stop elements, a shiftable stop on saidcarriage engageable in one position thereof with said stop elements insuccession, means for retracting said stop elements in succession toeil'cct step advance movements of said carriage, a toggle for shiftingsaid carriage stop, a limit s top which engages said toggle and shiftssaid carriage stop to an inoperative position to clear said stopelements during the return movement of the carriage, an element carriedby said toggle `which engages said stop elements to return them tooperative position during the return travel of the carriage, and a limitstop which engages and operates said toggle at the end of the returnmovement of the carriage to return said carriage stop to its operativeposition.

16. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group vof movable selectorelements arranged in like order in parallel longitudinal rows, each ofwhich rows includes elements corresponding t0 a, different one of saidseveral different printing characters, a series of setting devices forsaid elements, a carriage for said setting devices, and means foradvancing said carriage step by step to place said setting device inoperative relation to successive elements of said rows, comprising amotor having a slip drive connection with the carriage, a stop on thecarriage, a series of stop elements arranged to be engaged in successionby said carriage stop to hold the carriage against movement by saidmotor, means for retracting said stop elements in succession to effectstep advance movements of the carriage, and means acting upon returntravel of the carriage to return said stop elements'to position forengagement by said carriage stop in the next advance travel thereof.

17. In an apparatus for photographically composing printing characters,including a fontl of printing characters and projecting means forindividually projecting images of said characters onto a sensitizedsurface; a relay selecting means for predetermining the characters ofsaid font whose images are to be projected to the sensitized surface,comprising dual groups of movable selector elements each group havingelements correlated with the several different printing characters ofsaid font, each group having associated therewith means operable. toselectively set in operative position the selector elements of saidgroup which correspond to the printing characters whose images are to beprojected to the sensitized surface, and means cooperating with saidselected elements subsequently to said setting thereof for eiectingoperation of said image-projecting means of the printing characterscorresponding with said selected elements, the means for selectivelysetting the elements of one group being operable during the period thatsaid means are cooperating with the selected elements of the secondgroup to eiTect operation of the imageprojecting means.

18. A relay character-selecting means in an apparatus forphotographically composing printing characters according to claim 5,including in coordination with said selecting means, means which actsafter each image is projected to the sensitized surface to advance saidsensitized surface to position to receive the image next projected.

19. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a Afontof different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in like order in parallel longitudinal rows, each ofwhich rows includes elements corresponding to a different one of saidseveral different printing characters, a series of setting devices forsaid elements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arrangedeach in register with one of said rows of elements, means for advancingsaid carriage in one direction lengthwise of said rows for placing saidsetting devices in register with successive elements of said rows, a keyfor each of said several vprinting characters operatively connected eachwith a different one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said elements in character-selecting position, andmeans on said carriage and cooperating with such selected elements forselecting the printing characters corresponding therewith upon asubsequent movement of said carriage.

20. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters,

the combination of a pin board, a row of selector pins individuallymovable endwise in holes in said board and correlated with said font ofprinting characters, means for selectively setting pins of said row inoperative position for character selection, an electric conductorfrictionally contacting the sides of the several pins of said row, and acontact member movable along said row into contact with said selectedpins subsequently to said setting thereof to establish a characterselecting electric circuit from said conductor through said selectedpins.

21. A relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a font ofdifferent characters, comprising dual groups of movable selectorelements, each group having elements correlated with the severaldifferent printing characters of said font, each group having associatedtherewith means operable to selectively set in operative positionelements of said group for selecting the corresponding printingcharacters of said font, and means cooperating with said selectedelements subsequently to said setting thereof for effecting selection ofthe corresponding printing characters, the means for selectively settingthe elements of one group being operable during the period that saidmeans are cooperating with the selected elements of the second group toeiect the selection of the printing characters.

22. In a relay apparatus for selecting printing characters from a fontof different characters, the combination of a group of movable selectorelements arranged in like order in longitudinal rows, each of which rowsincludes elements corresponding to 'a different one of the severaldifferent printing characters, ,a series of setting devices'for saidelements, a carriage on which said setting devices are arranged in atransverse row with each device in register with a differentlongitudinal row of elements, means for advancing said carriage in onedirection lengthwise of said rows for placing said setting devices inoperative register with successive elements of said rows, an operatingkey for each of said several printing characters connected each with adifferent one of said setting devices for selectively settingcorresponding ones of said elements in operative position, and a seriesof contact devices on said carriage arranged to contact with saidselected elements uponV a return travel of said carriage to establishelectric circuits for selecting the printing characters correspondingwith said selected elements, said setting devices being mounted on saidcarriage at one side of said board, and said 'contact devices beingmounted on said carriage at the opposite side of said board. 23. A relaycharacter-selecting means in an apparatus for photographically composingprinting characters according to claim 5, in which the photographicexposure period for the character images is controlled by regulating thespeed of return movement of said means which eiects operation of saidimage' projecting means.

WILLIAM C. HUEBNER.

